Truly Making an Impact 41-50

In our 6th week of uncovering What Makes Teachers Memorable, the next set of traits as identified by students entering the teacher profession were mentioned in at least 5 of the 19 years of the surveys separately. As we count down the traits recognized more often by students, present and future educators should seriously consider emulating them if we want students to feel that each day is memorable and connecting the excitement for the learner.   

41. Consistent

Definition: agreeing or accordant; compatible, not self-contradictory, constantly adhering to the same principles, course, form, etc. holding firmly together, coherent, fixed, firm.

Key Thoughts for Application: dependable, logical, persistent, rational, steady, true, expected, invariable, unchanging

The stability created in the classroom has a true impact on learning. Once students feel safe, have the predictability and feeling of security, an accepting adult as well as peers around them, the fear of taking a risk for their participation, then the true learning can happen. An educator’s consistency of enforcing rules and procedures, identifying and reinforcing expectations of the efforts made by all in the classroom, and establishing routine of events are a minimum for a safe, risk-free learning environment. Surprises should be minimized and students given fair warning to prepare for variations in order to maintain maximum efforts for learning.

42. Excited

Definition: stirred emotionally; agitated, an excited crowd awaited the arrival of the famed rock group, stimulated to activity; brisk

Key Thoughts for Application: delighted, eager, enthusiastic, passionate, thrilled, animated, aroused, charged, roused, stimulated, stirred, wired,

Excited and excitement are similar words with two characteristics that have varying impact on a number of factors in learning. The level of anxiety, in a good sense, enhances concentration, attention to task, the level of energy put forth by the student, active participation and engagement, and motivation to complete the challenges of the task. They are all reliant on the excitement of the lesson. Putting the fire under the learner increases the potential of educating students successfully. The difference between working harder or smarter as a teacher and the more the kids are “into the lesson,” the higher the return on your efforts.

43. Activities

Definition: affording satisfaction, valuable experience, worthwhile, the state or quality of being active, a specific deed, action, function, or sphere of action, work, especially in elementary grades at school, that involves direct experience by the student rather than textbook study, energetic activity, animation, liveliness, a use of energy or force; an active movement or operation; normal mental or bodily power, function, or process.

Key Thoughts for Application: advantageous, fruitful, gratifying, productive, satisfying, valuable, worthwhile, fulfilling, action, enterprise, exercise, life, movement, activeness, animation, activeness, bustle, liveliness, motion

Planning for a lesson with the intent to connect and achieve a goal at the beginning, middle and end assures continuity and alignment for the stated goal. The science of aligning the activities with a defined purposed and well-thought-out consequence/result should be the framework for all lessons. The added feature of style helps create the fun in the learning and keeps the art side of the learning process in tune with the scientific sequence for students to follow.  

44. Warm

Definition: to excite enthusiasm, ardor, cheerfulness, or vitality in (someone), to inspire with kindly feeling, affect with lively pleasure, to become friendlier or more receptive,  

Key Thoughts for Application: hearty, enthusiastic, fervent, fervid, emotional, ardent, friendly, close, animate, excite, waken, stir, rouse, arouse, pleasant

I think back to the definition we used in the 1970’s to explain human nature to kindergarteners at our school. We talked about Warm Fuzzies and Cold Pricklies. Teachers accept students coming from homes (in the best cases) that have environments of comfort, care, safety, and playful experiences that, as little children¸ made sure they felt loved and special. Teachers start out with this in primary grades and transition erodes into a working environment of demands, rigid order, and structure to meet the standards established for all. Memorable teachers do not allow the drills to kill the thirst for learning and allow each day to be of success, both academically, socially, and emotionally for each student.

45. Flexible

Definition: capable of being bent, usually without breaking; easily bent, susceptible of modification or adaptation; adaptable, willing or disposed to yield, pliable:

Key Thoughts for Application: malleable, soft, adjustable, bending, elastic, formable, formative, limber, tensile, tractable, yielding

There are many types of learners and one size doesn’t fit all. The variations that must be taken to differentiate the learning is always present. This trait seems to fly in contrast to the consistency of activities topic previously reviewed. Teachers that are memorable can effectively meet the quantitative aspects of structure and predictability in the classroom while balancing the qualitative needs for the human interaction that all kids crave.

46. Entertaining

Definition: to hold the attention of pleasantly or agreeably, divert, amuse, to have as a guest; provide food, lodging, etc., for; show hospitality to, to admit into the mind, consider, to hold in the mind, harbor, cherish:

Key Thoughts for Application: absorbing, affecting, captivating, charming, compelling, delightful, engaging, engrossing, exciting, fascinating, fun, humorous, impressive, inspiring, interesting, pleasant, poignant, proactive, stimulating, thrilling, enthralling, rousing, stirring, clever, pique, witty

Boredom in the classroom is a killer mentioned by all students. The levels of interest, excitement, engagement, and attention should engulf the student each day. Children until age 5 have many more multimedia devices and programs that “entertain” and expose them to their vast capacity to absorb learning early and naturally. In many occasions, the teachers inherit kids that need stimulation beyond the traditional emphasis in learning. Voice modulation, presentation skills, communication techniques, and learning styles are all part of adapting the content to a high level of motivation and interest. Show Biz in the classroom requires a Master’s in communication.  

47. Compassionate

Definition: having or showing compassion, a compassionate person; a compassionate letter, granted in an emergency

Key Thoughts for Application: benevolent, charitable, humane, merciful, warm, warmhearted, pitying, sympathizing, sympathetic, tender, understanding

Again when you personally want the best for the students, and are willing to do anything to help them feel that, the world will be for their taking as a result of learning. This is what an educator emulates in the classroom. The personal concern for their well-being and interactions with the educator and others demonstrates you understand “where they are coming from” as well as allow you to get them to where they need to be going.

48. Real (istic Connect)

Definition: interested in, concerned with, or based on what is real or practical, pertaining to, characterized by, or given to the representation in literature or art of things as they really are, resembling or simulating real life:

Key Thoughts for Application: down-to-earth, practical, reasonable, sensible, pragmatic, common-sense, hard-headed, astute, sound, 

School for many years has been a skill-based emphasis. Kids come to school and leave without connecting the learned material into a real form of application. Teaching is not the end all of the process. Learning by the student is!!! As an educator connects the learning into a purpose and meaning for the students, the reasonable value becomes clear. Student ownership of the activities begins to take over for the day and allows for immense engagement. Thus the interactions made the learning dynamic and tremendously worthwhile to the psyche of the student. They will leave with a sense of fulfillment and a rush of anticipation to return each day.

49. Dedicated

Definition: wholly committed to something, as to an ideal, political cause, or personal goal, set apart or reserved for a specific use or purpose:

Key Thoughts for Application: devote, commit, pledge, consecrate, apply, assign, give, restrict, address, pledge

Students are extremely perceptive of the efforts made by adults from the first day they come to school to the last one done in their journey of learning. The can perceive which educator cares, why they are making the efforts, and who is “phoning it in.” They will candidly say so when asked. Dedicated teachers create a thirst for learning and exhibit an intense amount of “want” each day in their classes. In turn, life-long learning permeates their students. They plan (task analysis), they introduce the learning (set the anticipation), they have everything ready for the events of the session (preparation), they know their students and adjust for particular needs (assessment), and make sure that all students get the complete aspect of the concept of the day (learn). Teaching is difficult and dedicated educators are easy to spot and difficult to replicate. Teaching/Learning takes work.

50. Demanding

Definition: requiring or claiming more than is generally felt by others to be due, inquire, ask, an urgent or pressing requirement, to ask for with proper authority, calling for intensive effort or attention, taxing, claim as a right, to call for or require as just, proper, or necessary

Key Thoughts for Application: exact, demand, claim, require, imply, application, appeal, insistence, interest, order, requirement, command, exaction,  

In schools today there is so much more to learn. Students today have an access to a multitude of facts at their fingertips and are engaged with various devices enhancing what they learn and know. They see this as part of life and at times look at it as play, as well as fun. Still, it is up to the teacher to demand that the students perform and be accountable for the learning. If you only wish that they will learn, they might not. If you convey to them that they must learn (and be an example yourself of a life-long learner), they will follow your lead. When rigor demands, and if you truly lead them in their learning, they will come back to see you later and thank you for making them into what you wanted them to be.

Stephen Ahle Principal
Educator
2006 National Distinguished Principal
National Association of Elementary School Principals